The Steelers have signed veteran safety Juan Thornhill to a one-year deal.
Thornhill, 29, is a former second-round draft pick of the Chiefs out of Virginia. He's appeared in 87 career games, with 74 of those being starts, including 22 over the past two seasons with Cleveland.
Thornhill was an extreme tester coming out of Virginia, lighting up the NFL Scouting Combine by running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash with a vertical jump of 44 inches and a standing broad jump of 11-9 at 6-foot, 205 pounds.
That athleticism was on display, especially in his days with Kansas City, where he not only was the team's starting free safety, but also dropped down and played the slot extensively.
He has eight career interceptions and 24 pass breakups.
The past two seasons in Cleveland, Thornhill played more traditional free safety, rarely moving down to cover the slot, getting 30 defensive snaps there last season, down from the 176 he played in the slot in his final season in Kansas City in 2022.
The addition of Thornhill provides valuable depth for the Steelers behind starters Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott, replacing free agent Damonte Kazee.
It also gives them options to play more "Big Nickel" packages with one of those three safeties dropping into the slot to cover a tight end or bigger slot receiver.
In addition, Thornhill has played both free and strong safety in his career, giving the Steelers a valuable backup at those positions.
Thornhill does not, however, have an extensive special teams background, largely because he's been a clear starter in his previous stops.
Given the new "Dynamic" kickoff rules, he could be utilized as a coverage player on those units given the fact the play sets up like an offensive zone stretch play.
With Fitzpatrick, Elliott, Thornhill, veteran Miles Killebrew and second-year player Ryan Watts, a sixth-round pick a year ago, on the roster, the Steelers likely will be out of the market for adding another safety in the draft given this signing.
